"We are looking for marine transportation. 60 containers per time and 53 MT per container. please give us an estimated price and contact us." Whether or not this shipper request was 'spam', it raises important issues for every forwarder or carrier.

A number of terminals and terminal groups have expressed disquiet that proposals to the IMO would see them responsible for ensuring that weight has been verified prior to loading containers on board a ship. What is likely to change?

Cargo breaking loose within a Cargo Transport Unit really is preventable, by following good packing practice. Equally, complete and accurate information, and correct marking, will substantially assist anyone responding to an incident.

Following questions in the Netherlands Parliament, a number of Government Departments in that country have combined to implement an agreement on the joint monitoring of hazardous gases in import containers.

Peregrine Storrs-Fox, the TT Club's Risk Management Director, comments on weight misdeclaration in containers.

The police and highway authorities are continuing to crack down on overweight vehicles, and are looking especially at containerized loads.

The United Kingdom P&I Club recently issued a warning to its members about the consequences of improper repairs to door locking mechanisms.

The Hazworld.com website recently carried an article on the problems that can arise when cargoes are fumigated. Readers with good memories may remember that TT Talk addressed this issue in Editions 17 and 19, published in January and March 2002 respectively. The Hazworld article was prompted by a circular issued by the TT Club's sister club, the UK Pandi Club, following a survey of containers that had recently been carried out in Rotterdam.